City’s Market East plans: Go big AND include homes
In the ongoing debate over how to revitalize the economically stagnant and partially vacant Market East corridor, the city’s planning director Jessie Lawrence has some clear ideas about the direction redevelopment should take: it should be massive, and it should include plenty of housing.
“It’s prime time for density along Market Street,” Lawrence said Wednesday, at a Q&A session put on by the Design Advocacy Group. “Everything along Market Street could be big, and it could be high.” Here are three takeaways from the session. Learn more…
Photos: We take you to the Philly Flower Show
This year’s show, going on through Sunday at the Convention Center, envisions the future of horticulture, where nature’s timeless beauty and human innovation come together to cultivate a sustainable planet.
Photographer Hanbit Kwon provides a tour of this year’s exhibits as well as a look at the people who make the nation’s signature gardening event happen, including some of this year’s winning exhibitors. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• PennDOT will offer REAL ID Days as deadline nears to have an enhanced driver’s license for air travel, mostly. [Billy Penn]
• House Republicans’ proposed $880 million in budget cuts to Medicaid threatens millions of Pennsylvanians, say advocates, who say recipients “are not the parasite class.” [Capital-Star]
• We kick off a series of Q&A with Philly’s independent publishers by talking with Beehive Book’s Josh O’Neill. [Billy Penn]
• More elder abuse transparency and accountability are coming as the Shapiro administration denies a “crisis.” [Spotlight PA]
• Philly added 8,000 housing units in 2024. Nearly half of them were in Greater Center City. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly]
• Philly tax sales resumed nearly a year ago, but the land bank still hasn’t bid on any properties. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly]
• Philadelphians want the city to do more to plant and protect trees, amid challenges like the Trump administration freezing a $12 million federal grant to help implement the Philly Tree Plan. [WHYY]
• Philly AIDS Thrift is celebrating a major milestone — having donated $5 million through 250 grants over its existence. [Billy Penn]
MAYOR WATCH
The mayor has no public appearances scheduled for today.
ON THE CALENDAR
😋 East Passyunk Restaurant Week runs through March 7
👭🏽 Women’s History Month events in Philly
🫚 Friday, March 7, 14, 21: Rooted in Justice. Radical Herbalism
Black Honey Apothecary in Germantown hosts this workshop exploring herbalism as a tool for resistance and dealing with trauma. Learn to create personalized herbal remedies (herb blends, tinctures and salves) while connecting with Indigenous and ancestral knowledge for collective healing and community care. Free with registration. (4 to 6 p.m.)
🌼 Friday, March 7: In Bloom: Florals from The Athenaeum’s Collections
For March’s First Friday, we’ll be displaying floral illustrations, seed catalogues and books from our historic collections, along with a seed exchange! Free. (5 p.m.)
✍🏽 Friday, March 7: A Guided Journaling Workshop
Take a cue on the Global Day of Unplugging to head to Philly’s Magic Gardens for this journaling workshop. $20 members; $25 public. (6 to 8 p.m.)
🔦 Friday, March 7: The Late(ish) Poetry Show
“Like the Tonight Show & Def Poetry had a baby that grew up to be your favorite Friday night in Philly. Poetry, interviews, games and music.” At PhilaMOCA. $25 tickets. (8:30 to 10:30 p.m.)
🏋🏼 Saturday, March 8: Second Street Fitness Crawl
This inaugural event in Northern Liberties features three back-to-back workouts of barbells, boxing and heated power flow yoga, followed by a celebration at Indy Hall. (8 a.m. to noon)
🥃 Saturday, March 8: Philly Whiskey Walk 2025
The Philadelphia Zoo hosts this fun fundraiser featuring 8 whiskey tastes at 8 stops throughout the Zoo. $65 per person. (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
🎭 Saturday, March 8: Sh!t-faced Shakespeare®
The Perelman Theater stage hosts this drunken performance of the Bard’s “Much Ado About Nothing.” $57.50 tickets. (8 p.m.)
🛍️ Sunday, March 9: We Dissent – Reproductive Rights Fundraiser and Market
Home Brewed Events and Love City Brewing host this market featuring women, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ and allied makers. Free to attend. (1 to 6 p.m.)
🚋 Saturday, March 8 – Ongoing: A Deeply Rooted Trolley Tour by Harriett’s Bookshop
Kick off this series of three-hour, hop-on/hop-off Saturday tours that celebrate local food, culture, history, music and deeply rooted tradition with visits to new and seasoned spaces throughout Philadelphia. $50 tickets. (11 a.m. and various other times)
Catch up on the previous week
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